Missing Rx Information
Posted on 08/16/2011
It may seem a bit counterintutive, but one of the most common omissions we have seen on Rx forms is missing dentist practice information or missing patient information.
Perhaps, these types of omissions can be explained by the nature of lab-dentist relationships - most labs know their doctors personally and there is an underlying assumption that the lab can decipher the practice from the handwriting or the case materials itself - like the impression material or models. Nonetheless, missing doctor name or address, and certainly missing patient information, can delay cases or lead to avoidable mistakes.
The most common mistakes would include: incorrect shipping (for example, if a doctor practices at multiple locations), incorrect billing, and incorrect patient case history if the case is a continuation of a previous case.
As a result of these omissions, some labs have decided to pre-print the account information on the Rx form for the doctors, but this method can be a costly and logistical nightmare for small labs and does not solve the problem of missing patient information.
After years of experimentation, we have developed the following standards to help us avoid these types of mistakes:
1. Doctor Name and Address Box. Instead of a line item, we show a box on our Rx which allows the doctor to place a standard 3x1 inch label or stamp imprint.
2. We will not proces a case without a patient name or identifier.
3. We offer automaic email tracking confirmations for every case - which will confirm the patient name, due date, shipping address, and billing address.
It is indeed the very simple email confirmation that has helped us to avoid mistakes with shipping or billing without the need for a phone call. We highly recommend incorporating automatic email confirmations for all labs and practices.
Perhaps, these types of omissions can be explained by the nature of lab-dentist relationships - most labs know their doctors personally and there is an underlying assumption that the lab can decipher the practice from the handwriting or the case materials itself - like the impression material or models. Nonetheless, missing doctor name or address, and certainly missing patient information, can delay cases or lead to avoidable mistakes.
The most common mistakes would include: incorrect shipping (for example, if a doctor practices at multiple locations), incorrect billing, and incorrect patient case history if the case is a continuation of a previous case.
As a result of these omissions, some labs have decided to pre-print the account information on the Rx form for the doctors, but this method can be a costly and logistical nightmare for small labs and does not solve the problem of missing patient information.
After years of experimentation, we have developed the following standards to help us avoid these types of mistakes:
1. Doctor Name and Address Box. Instead of a line item, we show a box on our Rx which allows the doctor to place a standard 3x1 inch label or stamp imprint.
2. We will not proces a case without a patient name or identifier.
3. We offer automaic email tracking confirmations for every case - which will confirm the patient name, due date, shipping address, and billing address.
It is indeed the very simple email confirmation that has helped us to avoid mistakes with shipping or billing without the need for a phone call. We highly recommend incorporating automatic email confirmations for all labs and practices.
